M2HB buffer group help

[clark]

Hi I recently purchased a pretty beaten up M2HB that I am currently attempting to restore. I am trying to strip the gun and have had some success but I cannot get the buffer group out of the gun. I have tried pressing inwards as the manual states but it does nothing but simply press inwards. I have put a punch in the hole also as the manual states at the bottom right side of the gun but there is nothing inside for the punch to punch out. There is no pin in there, is there supposed to be a pin holding in the buffer assembly or something like that?

The buffer group will move up and down a bit but thats it, it moves back and forward some but will not come out?

Anyone know how to do this, its supposed to be a simple take down.

Also when I put the gun back together the buffer itself allways sticks out from the gun about an inch and half or more and cocking it is a real pain. Is there a way to adjust this so I dont have to give myself a hernia every time I charge the gun?

Thanks

[ramc181]

Jan 3, 2010 21:07:06 GMT 1 clark said:

I have put a punch in the hole also as the manual states at the bottom right side of the gun but there is nothing inside for the punch to punch out.
There is no pin in there, is there supposed to be a pin holding in the buffer assembly or something like that?

There should be a flat retaining spring on the side of the buffer group there, which stops the buffer group coming out the back of the receiver.

The buffer group will move up and down a bit but thats it, it moves back and forward some but will not come out?

Are the barrel & barrel extension group free to come out along with the buffer group?

Also when I put the gun back together the buffer itself allways sticks out from the gun about an inch and half or more and cocking it is a real pain. Is there a way to adjust this so I dont have to give myself a hernia every time I charge the gun?

Thanks

I'm assuming this means the buffer tube isn't fully in the buffer group. It should protrude about 1" from the rear of the buffer group when correctly assembled.
It should pull out of the body relatively easily.
Make sure the spring guide key is facing to the right, or the piston rod hook facing upwards, when refitting depending on model.
When refitted, if it is of the pattern with a slotted adjuster on the back, turn the adjuster fully anticlockwise to the stop, then three clicks clockwise.

All the best,
PB

[britplumber]

Jan 3, 2010 21:07:06 GMT 1 clark said:

Hi I recently purchased a pretty beaten up M2HB that I am currently attempting to restore. I am trying to strip the gun and have had some success but I cannot get the buffer group out of the gun. I have tried pressing inwards as the manual states but it does nothing but simply press inwards. I have put a punch in the hole also as the manual states at the bottom right side of the gun but there is nothing inside for the punch to punch out. There is no pin in there, is there supposed to be a pin holding in the buffer assembly or something like that?

The buffer group will move up and down a bit but thats it, it moves back and forward some but will not come out?

Anyone know how to do this, its supposed to be a simple take down.

Also when I put the gun back together the buffer itself allways sticks out from the gun about an inch and half or more and cocking it is a real pain. Is there a way to adjust this so I dont have to give myself a hernia every time I charge the gun?

Thanks

Welcome to the HMG collective! Is yours a AC sparkplug model? I've got 2 of them but ones missing a barrel support. I find this poster handy for parts refrences.

[britplumber]

Just a thought, I'm sure the barrel extension and bufer assembly are locked together and you shouldn't be able to get the buffer out seperate to the extension. If it does, this could be why it sticks out about and inch. The accelerator should go through the long arm on the back of the extension. Have you got the barrel off yet?

The bit where you say the book says to push in, i think it refers to pushing the spring retainer in on the right of the buffer assy. There is no pin to knock out, just a flat spring to push in a little.

[clark]

Hi thanks for the tips, I'm going to try them when I get a moment. I'll post some more pics as well. As for the make I dont know at the moment due to all the rust and paint mess.

This is my first M2, trying to gather as much info as I can before I start working on this thing.

It was found in the atlantic in a downed bomber from what I am told. The last owner added some new parts to the destroyed ones and this what he came up with.

I got a good deal on it so I plan to do a total restoration then refinish with either a blued or parked finish.

Now when I yank on the barrel the buffer group does move forward with the barrel and extention as its supposed to I guess. When I stick a pin in the hole you mentioned all there is, is metal I do not feel anything that is spring loaded or moves. Should I be doing this with barrel pulled out or pushed in which in turn moves the buffer group.

Do I need to get the barrel off before I can take out the buffer assembly/group?

Thanks again guys, I'll be posting all the pics of the restoration before and after when I,m done.

[britplumber]

I doubt it came out of a bomber (Unless it was being transported) as the aircraft version was the M2AC rather than HB. The AC version had a light barrel and long barrel shroud (as shown in pic of exploded diagram of AC basic) and cycled faster due to the lighter barrel.

Yes the barrel needs to come out first (Unlike the 1919A4) forward of the gun and then you push in the little spring on the right side of the buffer and the buffer and barrel extension should just pull out. If the whole lot moves, then I guess the spring could be missing, but the barrel is left holding the buffer and brl ext in place.

Let me know how you get on and I'll get some photos of mine.

If you want a better copy of that exploded diagram that you can enlarge to read part numbers let me know and I'll send it to you.

[clark]

Yes I could use that larger exploded pic of the gun if you dont mind sending it me at [e-mail]

The barrel and shroud are new additions the reciever is original. The last owner put the gun together with a mix of old and new.

So I dont know if its an old aircraft gun or not because of this.

I,m dying to clean up the area where the markings are to try to figure out who made this thing.

Would you mind posting a pic of yours with the spade grips off when you get a moment to compare.

Oh and I almost forgot, with all the guts back in place how hard should it be to cock this gun. I find unless I,m sitting in back behind the tripod with my feet planted firmly anything other than a quick very very hard underhanded yank will not budge it.

Is it supposed to be like that? I cant see this being practical if so in combat if you ran into ammo issues?

Lastly do you guys know of any good parts retailers in the UK or a source for a M3 tripod at all?

Thanks again

[britplumber]

I've sent some photos to your email address.

It shouldn't be too dificult to cock it, I have to brace the tripod with my feet, but thats mainly because my tripod is sat on the floor boards so the feet hvae nothing to bite into. Once the cam on the handle has broken the initial resistence, it should be a nice smooth but firm slide rearwards. If its difficult, I can only think the spring needs greasing or the breech block/bolt needs some oil. Once you've got it apart, you will find it much easier to locate any probs.